Chungbuk National University has begun to pilot 'Electronic Attendance-Absence Recording Systems' in some major classes and the smaller liberal arts classes since the first term of this year. This system is imposed to increase the efficiency of lessons by cutting attendance check time, to resolve inconveniences of established attendance books and to procure transparency about attendance. Previously, CBNU ran this system for only 2 liberal arts classes with over 100 attendees: '21C Life and Future' and 'Civilized People's Panorama.’  However, CBNU is piloting this system this year in some other classes as well, that are 3 major classes and 5 liberal arts classes including '21C Life and Future' and 'Civilized People's Panorama’, with a plan to expand the application of the system in all classes in the future.

 'Electronic Attendance-Absence Recording Systems' can process more rapidly and accurately by taking student ID cards instead of processing attendance by calling names. When students touch their student ID cards to the card reader, attendance is checked by the message “taking attendance” showing on the screen of the card reader.

 Lee Hye-jin (Management Information Systems ‘11) said, “We can make better use of time because this system takes less time than calling names.” This system has the advantages of shortening attendance check time and allowing the professor or teaching assistant to effectively check attendance through computers.

 However, this system has some weaknesses despite the advantages. An anonymous student spoke candidly of his difficulties about machine malfunctions saying, “I think checking attendance can’t be done because of machine errors and supervisory neglect.” Many students also feel inconvenience about onerousness of possibly forgetting to bring or losing their student ID cards. It’s because they should request attendance checks by the professor or teaching assistant if this situation occurs. Proxy attendance, attendance by others as a substitute, could be also a serious problem.

 Lim Dal-ho, who is a professor of the Dept. of International Business and checks attendance by the Electronic Attendance-Absence Recording Systems in his classes ‘International Business Management’ and ‘Strategic Management’, said, “I feel professors are taken away from communication with students. When we checked attendance by looking at attendance books, we could memorize students’ faces and names and talk with students. However, I think this situation is removed by introducing this system." Adding to this, he said, “I think it is better using Electronic Attendance-Absence Recording Systems in conjunction with the established way of attendance depending on professors’ discretion. I think professors or students have to choose whether they use attendance books or this system.”

 Electronic Attendance-Absence Recording Systems has already been used in many universities. Some universities successfully implemented this system, while most universities gave up this system as a fifth wheel due to the above problems. Hanyang University, which is seen as a success case, has enforced this system since the second semester of 2007. Unlike other universities, most students show a favorable response. It’s because Hanyang University selectively introduced this system only in classes with over 100 attendees like CBNU’s current way. In addition, the proxy attendance problem was solved by taking random roll calls. Sookmyung Women’s University can use student ID cards and mobile student ID cards as well when they attend a class. It works for students who lost or left their student ID cards to check attendance.

 The Department of the University Register of CBNU Head Office said, “Proxy attendance problem can be resolved by comparing the number of students who attend in the Electronic Attendance-Absence Recording Systems and the number of students who really take the class. In addition, we plan to enforce this system step by step.”